Vultures are often ugly and smelly. These scavengers feed on fresh meat and rotting carcasses. Their bare heads and necks prevent bacteria from getting their feathers. The service vultures provide is often taken for granted. In India, vulture species have declined by up to 99% in recent years. An antibiotic drug given to cattle and other caused the near extinction in India. The missing birds of prey did not go , however. Without the vultures to remove the sick and dead animals, the stench of carcasses became unbearable. Rabies and other diseases became a major problem due to an increase in rats and wild dogs. Now that the drug has been banned for use on livestock, Indian vultures are the important job at hand.

Comprehension Questions

Why do vultures have bald heads and necks?

What caused the major decline of vultures in India?

How did the loss of the vulture population affect humans?

Discussion Questions: The English expression “don’t judge a book by its cover” applies to animals such as vultures. What other animals have a bad reputation due to their odd appearance or behaviour?

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Vultures Aren’t Just Ugly Birds
Vultures are often considered ugly and smelly. These scavengers feed on fresh meat and rotting carcasses. Their bare heads and necks prevent bacteria from getting buried in their feathers. The service vultures provide is often taken for granted. In India, vulture species have declined by up to 99% in recent years. An antibiotic drug given to cattle and other livestock caused the near extinction in India. The missing birds of prey did not go unnoticed, however. Without the vultures to remove the sick and dead animals, the stench of carcasses became unbearable. Rabies and other diseases became a major problem due to an increase in rats and wild dogs. Now that the drug has been banned for use on livestock, Indian vultures are getting back to the important job at hand.

Vultures have bald heads and necks to prevent bacteria from getting caught in their feathers.

An antibiotic drug used on livestock created the major decline of vultures in India.

The loss of the vulture population caused a terrible stench and an increase in rabies and other diseases.